Children’s Ministry In Crisis The Workbook

By Esther Moreno

Building upon the groundbreaking insights of "Children’s Ministry in Crisis," this companion Workbook is your essential guide to personal growth and leadership development in children's ministry. Authored by esteemed children's ministry leader Esther Moreno, this Workbook empowers you to delve deeper into your unique ministry context, assess your strengths and weaknesses, and chart a course for transformative leadership.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798369416488

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 by Esther Moreno. 858410

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any templates depicted in the Crisis Containment assignments were provided by Canva

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quotes from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright 1983 by the Zondervan Corporation.

Xlibris

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www.Xlibris.com

Rev. date: 02/15/2024

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1 No Leadership

Chapter 2 No Vision

Chapter 3 No Training

Chapter 4 Outdated

Chapter 5 Burnout

Chapter 6 Spiritually Dead

Chapter 7 Hope

INTRODUCTION

In the ever-evolving landscape of children’s ministry, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. The challenges we face today are unlike any we’ve encountered before. Like an imperceptible virus, a crisis of leadership has quietly infiltrated children’s ministries across the nation. While on the surface, these ministries may appear to sustain the status quo, their true potential and effectiveness are being invisibly undermined by a host of issues – issues that threaten the very foundation of our mission.

This workbook, a companion to my book, Children’s Ministry In Crisis, has been created to address the pressing need for leadership development and growth within the realm of children’s ministry. It is designed to equip you, the devoted leader, with the tools, strategies, and insights necessary to confront these challenges head-on, and in doing so, to transform your ministry into a vibrant, thriving, and spiritually impactful environment for the next generation.

Why This Workbook?

Children’s ministry is not merely about organizing events or babysitting children while their parents attend services. It is about nurturing the spiritual growth of young hearts and minds, molding the future of our faith communities, and instilling values that will shape these children throughout their lives. Yet, as we face burnout, dwindling volunteer commitment, cultural shifts that challenge our values, and a crisis of leadership, we find ourselves standing at a precipice. The choices we make today will determine the spiritual trajectory of generations to come.

This workbook aims to tackle the root causes of these challenges and guide you towards solutions. It helps you to delve deeper into the critical areas of leadership, vision, training, wellness, and spiritual maturity – areas that are essential for effective children’s ministry leadership. We must recognize that addressing these issues is not a luxury but an imperative if we are to remain relevant and impactful in the lives of the young souls entrusted to us.

How to Effectively Use This Workbook:

• Complement Your Reading: This workbook is designed to complement the insights and strategies presented in Children’s Ministry in Crisis. As you read through the book, use this workbook as a practical guide to apply the concepts and principles discussed.

• Self-Assessment: Start by engaging in a thorough self-assessment. Reflect on your leadership strengths and weaknesses, your vision for your ministry, and your personal wellness. Identify areas where improvement is needed.

• Actionable Exercises: Throughout this workbook, you will find actionable Crisis Containment exercises, thought-provoking questions, and real-world scenarios to help you internalize key concepts and develop practical strategies for your ministry.

• Group Discussion: Consider using this workbook as a tool for group discussions with your ministry team or peers. Share your insights, challenges, and successes, and learn from one another’s experiences.

• Long-Term Growth: Remember that transforming your ministry and your leadership style is not an overnight process. Use this workbook as a long-term resource, revisiting it periodically to track your progress and make continuous improvements.

In the war for the hearts and minds of the next generation, we are called to rise to the occasion. Together, through diligent self-improvement and unwavering commitment, we can overcome the challenges facing children’s ministry and ensure a brighter, spiritually enriched future for our children. Let this workbook be your guide on this transformative journey.

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CHAPTER 1

No Leadership

Assumptions About Children’s Ministry

As a recent seminary graduate, I was convinced that my first appointment as a Children’s Ministry director would be a cakewalk. only two weeks on the job, I quickly learned that having the admiration of children alone was not enough. In retrospect, I should have suspected that winter was coming when the youth pastor (who had doubled as the interim children’s ministry director) exclaimed Yippee on the day I was introduced to the congregation. Hindsight is 20/20, but if I could press redo, there are so many things that I would do differently. Instead of assuming that I understood the gist of my role, I would have spent more time uncovering all of the written and unwritten expectations of volunteers, parents, and church leadership. Rather than spending countless hours perfecting the execution of the curriculum, I would have allocated more time to cultivating more meaningful relationships with those volunteers who were on the fence about renewing their commitments. With only a few intentional conversations, I could have gained real insight into some of those landmine issues that caused my predecessor to abandon the post. I might have tread a bit more carefully around those controversial decisions affecting check-in systems and shared classroom spaces. Needless to say, you live and learn. I now realize that so many of my early ministry missteps stemmed from a lack of effective leadership.

What steps have you taken to thoroughly understand the expectations, both written and unwritten, of volunteers, parents, and church leadership in your children’s ministry role?

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